Radiology garment dispensing, cleaning, and tracking system

ABSTRACT

A radiology garment storage and cleaning system, for storing and cleaning radiology garments, each garment including a radiology apron and a radiology collar. The radiology garment storage and cleaning system includes a storage apparatus, which is divided into a number of compartments for accepting a radiology garment, the compartments extending from the first side to the second side. Each compartment is equipped with a cleaning system, a door with a lock and at least one status light. The storage apparatus also includes an ID card and a monitoring system which is in electronic communication with the ID card reader, the lock of each compartment, each of the cleaning mechanisms, and the status light of each compartment. The monitoring system is configured to monitor when the radiology garment is placed in one of the compartments, automate the cleaning of the garment, and track the garment&#39;s usage.

CROSS REFERENCES AND RELATED SUBJECT MATTER

This application is a divisional of patent application Ser. No.15/246,022, filed in the United States Patent Office on Aug. 24, 2016,which is now U.S. Pat. No. 10,179,965, and which is a non-provisionalpatent filing of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/212,428,filed in the United States Patent Office on Aug. 31, 2015.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a radiology garmentdispensing, cleaning, and tracking system. More particularly, thepresent disclosure relates to a system for storing, cleaning, andmonitoring the use of radiology garments, each garment may include aradiology apron and a radiology collar.

BACKGROUND

The use of x-ray imagery is almost ubiquitous in facilities that providehealthcare services. X-ray imagery allows doctors to view the internalstructures of patients without conducting invasive surgery. There are anumber of techniques that use x-ray radiation in order to obtain imagesof a patient, such as radiography, computed tomography, and fluoroscopy.While the exact use of x-rays in generating diagnostic quality imagingdiffers, all of these techniques on some level bombard the patient withx-ray radiation.

While x-ray radiation can be an incredibly useful diagnostic tool,overexposure to x-ray radiation can cause serious harm or death inpatients. As such, the use of radiation shielding garments has becomestandard practice whenever a patient is subjected to x-ray radiation.

However, as x-ray imagery is being utilized in increasing amounts, theability of healthcare facilities to maintain adequate supplies of theseradiology garments becomes a large challenge. Further, there areregulatory requirements that place restrictions on the use and cleaningof radiology garments in healthcare facilities, set forth byorganizations such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,the Department of Health, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation ofHealthcare Organizations. While beneficial, these regulations result inadditional hurdles to providing x-ray imagery to patients. Accordingly,there is a need for a device that can provide an automated cleaningservice, as well as track the usage of radiology garments used byhealthcare facilities.

While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed,or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes ofthe present disclosure as disclosed hereafter.

In the present disclosure, where a document, act or item of knowledge isreferred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not anadmission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combinationthereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to thepublic, part of common general knowledge or otherwise constitutes priorart under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to berelevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the presentdisclosure is concerned.

While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussedto facilitate the present disclosure, no technical aspects aredisclaimed and it is contemplated that the claims may encompass one ormore of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is toprovide a radiology garment dispensing and cleaning system that iscapable of tracking the amount of use of each of the garments in afacility inventory. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides aradiology garment dispensing and cleaning system that allows ahealthcare facility to more easily dispense, clean, and monitor the useand cleaning of all of its radiation shielding garments. The systemprovides each user with an ID card having a unique identifier. Garmentsare tracked/followed according to when each user scans his or her IDcard to retrieve or replace one of the garments.

Accordingly, the present disclosure describes a radiology garmentstorage and cleaning system, for storing and cleaning radiologygarments, each garment including a radiology apron and a radiologycollar. The radiology garment storage and cleaning system includes astorage apparatus, which is divided into a number of compartments foraccepting a radiology garment, the compartments extending from the firstside to the second side. Each compartment is equipped with a cleaningsystem, a door with a lock and at least one status light. The storageapparatus also includes an ID card and a monitoring system which is inelectronic communication with the ID card reader, the lock of eachcompartment, each of the cleaning mechanisms, and the status light ofeach compartment. The monitoring system is configured to monitor whenthe radiology garment is placed in one of the compartments, automate thecleaning of the garment, and track the garment's usage.

The present disclosure addresses at least one of the foregoingdisadvantages. However, it is contemplated that the present disclosuremay prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in anumber of technical areas. Therefore, the claims should not necessarilybe construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems ordeficiencies discussed hereinabove. To the accomplishment of the above,this disclosure may be embodied in the form illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, thatthe drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as beingpart of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals.The drawings are briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view, showing an example embodimentof the radiology garment dispensing and cleaning system according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a compartment of thestorage apparatus of the present invention, where a radiology garment isshown hanging on an embodiment of a hanger according to the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3A is a front view of a radiology garment hanging on an embodimentof the hanger according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a front view of an embodiment of the hanger according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of a compartment of the presentinvention equipped with the cleaning system of the present invention,with a radiology garment hanging on an embodiment of the hangeraccording to the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a sample flow chart showing an embodiment of the method ofcleaning a radiology garment according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a sample flow chat showing an embodiment of the method ofdispensing a radiology garment according to the present disclosure.

The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which show various exampleembodiments. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to the exampleembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments areprovided so that the present disclosure is thorough, complete and fullyconveys the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a radiology garment storage and cleaning system,having a storage apparatus 100, an ID card reader 300, and a monitoringsystem 400. The system is used by a plurality of users, each user havingan ID card 350 that contains unique identifying information. The storageapparatus 100 has a front end 100A, a rear end 100B, a first side 100C,a second side 100D, a top surface 100E, and a bottom surface 100F. Thestorage apparatus 100 also has a plurality of compartments 200, locatedbetween the first side 100C and the second side 100D. Each of theplurality of compartments 200 extends from the front end 100A to therear end 100B, and extends partially between the first side 100C and thesecond side 100D. Further, each of the plurality of compartments isequipped with a door 202, at least one status light 203, and a lock 204,wherein the lock 204 and at least one status light 203 is in electroniccommunication with the monitoring system 400. In some embodiments, thedoor 202 is equipped with at least one vent to facilitate dryingfollowing the cleaning operation described hereinbelow. Each of theplurality of compartments 200 is sized to accommodate at least oneradiology garment. Here, the radiology garment refers to a radiationapron, a radiation collar, or some combination thereof. As will bedescribed hereinafter, each radiology garment is uniquely identified andits usage is tracked indirectly—by tracking the user withdrawing andreplacing the radiology garment into one of the compartments 200 aspermitted by the monitoring system 400 locking and unlockingcompartments. Thus, the garment is tracked when one of the compartmentscontaining the garment is unlocked by the user ID of one of the users,and the garment is then associated with that user. The garment isfurther tracked when that user unlocks one of the compartments usingtheir ID card to return the garment, and the garment is presumed to thenbe the one subsequently located in that compartment.

The ID card reader 300 is preferably mounted adjacent to the storageapparatus 100. In a preferred embodiment, the monitoring system 400,which features a memory unit and a processor, is housed within the IDcard reader 300. The monitoring system 400 may also be in a remotelocation and communicate with ID card reader 300 via a computer networksuch as the Internet. The monitoring system 400 keeps track of which IDcard is used, when the ID is used, and the status of one or moreradiology garments associated with the ID card. As will be described indetail hereinbelow, by associating the usage of one of the ID cards withthe locking and unlocking of the storage components, the usage of theradiology garments stored in the storage compartments can be tracked bythe monitoring system 400.

Referring to FIG. 2, a side view of one embodiment of one of theplurality of compartments 200 is shown. Here, the compartment features ahanging mechanism 207, a hanger 500, and a radiology garment 600. As canbe seen, the hanger 500 preferably hangs on the hanging mechanism 207.

FIG. 3A shows a radiology apron 601 and a radiology collar 602 hangingon the hanger 500. FIG. 3B shows the hanger 500 without the radiationapron 601 or radiation collar 602 so that the individual components ofthe hanger 500 can be better seen. Specifically, hanger 500 featuresneck a 501, a hook 502, a triangular part 503, a stem 504, and a clampmechanism 505. The neck 501 has a top end 501A and a bottom end 501B.The hook 504 is attached to the top end 501A and the triangular part 503is attached to the bottom end 501B. The stem 504 has a top portion 504Aand a bottom portion 504B. The top portion 504A is connected to thetriangular part 503, and the bottom portion 504B is connected to theclamp mechanism 505. Preferably, the clamp mechanism 505 has ahorizontal component 505A and at least two clamps 505B, wherein the atleast two clamps 505B are rotatably attached to the horizontal component505A.

Referring back to FIG. 3A, the radiation apron 601 is shown resting onand supported by the triangular part 503, and the collar is shown heldby the clamp mechanism 505 via at least two clamps 505B. Preferably, thecollar is held substantially taut and flat by the at least two clamps602, and substantially planar with the radiation apron 601. FIG. 4 showsanother embodiment of one of the plurality of compartments 200,featuring a cleaning system 201, a liquid impermeable bottom 205, and avolume of cleaning solution 206. The cleaning system 201 preferablycomprises a first pulley 201A, a second pulley 201B, a cable 201C, andat least one brush 201D mounted on and vertically movable by the cable201C. The door 202 and the lock 204 are also shown here for reference.Here, the at least one brush 201D engages with and cleans the garment600. Controlled by the monitoring system 400, cleaning mechanism 201operates by rotating the first pulley 201A, the second pulley 201B, orboth to vertically move the at least one brush 201D vertically acrossgarment 600. Preferably, the cleaning system comprises two first pulleys201A, two second pulleys 201B, two cables 201C, and at least two brushes201D, one brush attached to each cable 201C, as shown here, wherein thebrushes 201D are configured to be at the same vertical and opposed toeach other so that they both engage the garment simultaneously at thesame height but from opposite sides. This provides the preferableconfiguration where each brush 201D engages with and cleans one side ofgarment 600, allowing for comprehensive cleaning. Preferably, during thecleaning mechanism 201 operation, the brush 201D will be submerged inthe volume of cleaning solution at least momentarily, proximate tosecond pulley 201B. This allows the brush 201D to become at leastpartially infused with cleaning solution, providing more efficientcleaning of garment 600 and provide anti-bacterial treatment to thegarment. Preferably, as a safety feature, cleaning system 201 will onlyoperate to clean the garment 600 when the lock 204 is engaged.Generally, the system will wait for a predetermined amount of timebefore allowing the garment to be dispensed to one of the users, so asto provide the garment with sufficient time to dry. In addition, dryingapparatus, including fans, heating elements and lights, etc., may beprovided within the compartment to speed drying of the garment 600.

FIG. 5 shows an example flow chart of a method of cleaning a radiologygarment of the present invention. In step 700, using the radiationdispensing and cleaning apparatus, one of the users swipes their ID cardthrough card reader 300 to request garment storage. In step 800,monitoring system 400, after receiving the user identifying informationon the ID card, finds an unoccupied compartment 200 and disengages thatcompartment's lock 204. From there, in step 900 the user places theradiology garment in the unlocked compartment 200 and shuts the door202. Subsequently, monitoring system 400 determines that the door 202 isclosed, engages the lock 204, and subsequently operates the appropriatecleaning mechanism 201 in step 1000. When the system is finishedcleaning, it indicates to the user that the radiology garment is cleanby illuminating the at least one status light 203. The monitoring systemthereby tracks the garment location as being within said compartment1010.

In some embodiments, the present invention is equipped with multiplestatus lights, each light having a unique color, and each colorcorresponding to a state of cleaning. For example, no illuminated lightscorresponds to an empty compartment; a red light corresponds to a dirtyradiology garment being in the compartment, a yellow light correspondsto a compartment that is currently cleaning a garment, and a green lightcorresponds to a compartment being occupied with a cleaned garment. Thisis just one example of how the at least one status light 203 could beused to visually indicate to a user the state of a compartment'scontents. Monitoring system 400 will then log the radiology garment asbeing used an additional time, and will timestamp that log. Monitoringsystem 400 is capable of determining the time between a radiologygarment being cleaned and checked out. This will help a user determinethe volume of a particular garment, and will help users manage theirinventory of radiology garments.

FIG. 6 shows another example flow chart of an embodiment of the methodof dispensing a radiology garment. When the user desires a radiologygarment, from the radiation dispensing and cleaning system of thepresent invention, they will first swipe their ID card to request agarment in step 1100. In step 1200, after monitoring system 400 receivesthe information located on the ID card, it will determine the amount ofuse on the garments stored in the system. This can be calculated by, forexample, the amount of times the radiology garment has been placed into,cleaned by, and dispensed by the system. After determining the garmentwith the least amount of use contained in the system, the methodproceeds to step 1300 where the compartment containing that garment isopened. Note that if the garment selected as having the least amount ofuse has been cleaned too recently—within a predetermined period oftime—then the system would select a different garment and thecompartment containing that garment is opened. The user removes thegarment from the hanger and then closes that door of that compartment.The garment is associated with the user 1400, so that when that useragain swipes his or her ID card to open one of the empty compartments,the garment will be presumed to then be the garment within saidcompartment.

It is understood that when an element is referred hereinabove as being“on” another element, it can be directly on the other element orintervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there areno intervening elements present.

Moreover, any components or materials can be formed from a same,structurally continuous piece or separately fabricated and connected.

It is further understood that, although ordinal terms, such as, “first,”“second,” “third,” are used herein to describe various elements,components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components,regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms.These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region,layer or section from another element, component, region, layer orsection. Thus, “a first element,” “component,” “region,” “layer” or“section” discussed below could be termed a second element, component,region, layer or section without departing from the teachings herein.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper” and the like, are used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It is understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device can be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross sectionillustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments.As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result,for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, example embodiments described herein should not beconstrued as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustratedherein, but are to include deviations in shapes that result, forexample, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated ordescribed as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features.Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, theregions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and theirshapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region andare not intended to limit the scope of the present claims.

In conclusion, herein is presented a radiology garment dispensing andcleaning system. The disclosure is illustrated by example in the drawingfigures, and throughout the written description. It should be understoodthat numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventiveconcept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the presentdisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of storing, cleaning, and tracking atleast one radiology garment via a radiology garment storage and cleaningsystem having a storage apparatus comprising a plurality ofcompartments, each compartment having a door, a hanging mechanism, alock, a cleaning system comprising two scrubbing mechanisms, each havinga first pulley rotatably attached to the compartment proximate to a topsurface of the compartment, a second pulley rotatably attached to thecompartment and within the volume of cleaning solution, a cablerotatably attached to the first and second pulley, and at least onebrush fixed to the cable, a status light, a hanger having a hook, atriangular portion, and a clamp mechanism, an ID card reader, and amonitoring system having a memory unit, for use by a plurality of users,each user having an identification card having a unique identifier,comprising the steps of: inserting an identification card into the IDcard reader; determining by the monitor system the unique identifier ofsaid ID card; recording by the monitoring system in its memory unit saidunique identifier; unlocking, by the monitoring system, the lock of oneof the plurality of compartments; removing the hanger by the user;hanging a radiology garment on the triangular portion of the hanger;placing the hanger on the hanging mechanism, via the hook, in theunlocked compartment; closing the door; cleaning the radiology garmentby the cleaning system by rotating the first pulley and the secondpulley such that the brush is placed in a cleaning solution and rotatingthe first pulley and the second pulley in the opposite direction suchthat the brush is dragged across the radiology garment; and trackingusage of said radiology garment by said monitoring system in said memoryunit.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recordingthe time of cleaning the garment by the monitoring system.
 3. The methodof claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching a radiation collarto the clamp mechanism.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising thestep of recording, by the monitoring system, the amount of times theradiology garment has been cleaned by the system.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein the method is followed by the step of updating the statuslight to indicate that the radiology garment is clean.
 6. A method ofstoring, cleaning, and tracking radiology garments via a radiologygarment storage and cleaning system, by a user having an ID card havinga unique identifier, via a radiology garment storage and cleaning systemhaving a storage apparatus comprising a plurality of compartments, eachcompartment having a door, a hanging mechanism, a lock, a cleaningsystem having two scrubbing mechanisms, each having a first pulleyrotatably attached to the compartment proximate to the top surface, asecond pulley rotatably attached to the compartment and within thevolume of cleaning solution, a cable rotatably attached to the first andsecond pulley, and at least one brush fixed to the cable, a statuslight, and a status light, a hanger having a hook, a triangular portion,and a clamp mechanism, an ID card reader, and a monitoring system havinga memory unit, comprising the steps of: inserting the identificationcard into the ID card reader, registering by the monitoring system theinsertion of the identification card, wherein a unique identifier of theidentification card and the time of insertion are recorded by themonitoring system in the memory unit; determining, by the monitoringsystem, if any clean radiology garments are available; selecting aradiology garment by the monitoring system, by selecting the radiologygarment that has been cleaned the least amount of times or selecting adifferent radiology garment if a predetermined time period has notpassed since cleaning the selected radiology garment; unlocking thecompartment containing the selected radiology garment or unlocking thecompartment containing said different radiology garment; and associatingsaid radiology garment with said user within the memory unit of themonitoring system; wherein the foregoing steps are followed by the stepsof: inserting an identification card into the ID card reader;determining by the monitor system the unique identifier of said ID card;recording by the monitoring system in its memory unit said uniqueidentifier; unlocking, by the monitoring system, the lock of one of theplurality of compartments; removing the hanger by the user; hanging theradiology garment on the triangular portion of the hanger; placing thehanger on the hanging mechanism, via the hook, in the unlockedcompartment; closing the door; cleaning the radiology garment by thecleaning system by rotating the first pulley and the second pulley suchthat the brush is placed in a cleaning solution and rotating the firstpulley and the second pulley in the opposite direction such that thebrush is dragged across the radiology garment; and tracking usage ofsaid radiology garment by said monitoring system in said memory unit. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein the method is followed by the step ofupdating the status light to indicate that the radiology garment isclean.
 8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of hangingthe radiology garment on the triangular portion of the hanger iffollowed by the step of attaching a radiation collar to the clampmechanism.